Multi-functional energy conditioner

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a multi-functional energy conditioner having architecture employed in conjunction with various dielectric and combinations of dielectric materials to provide one or more differential and common mode filters for the suppression of electromagnetic emissions and surge protection. The architecture allows single or multiple components to be assembled within a single package such as an integrated circuit or connector. The component&#39;s architecture is dielectric independent and provides for integration of various electrical characteristics within a single component to perform the functions of filtering, decoupling, fusing and surge suppression

This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.09/579,606 filed May 26, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 09/460,218 filed Dec. 13, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No.6,331,926 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/056,379filed Apr. 7, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,448, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/008,769 filed Jan. 19,1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,581, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/841,940 filed Apr. 8,1997, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,350.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-functional energy conditionerthat possesses a commonly shared centrally located conductive electrodeof the structure that can simultaneously interact with energized andpaired differential electrodes as said differential electrodes operatewith respect to each other in a oppositely phased or charged manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The majority of electronic equipment produced presently includesminiaturized active components and circuitry to perform high-speedfunctions and utilize high speed electrical interconnections topropagate power and data between critical components. These componentscan be very susceptible to stray electrical energy created byelectromagnetic interference or voltage transients occurring onelectrical circuitry servicing or utilizing these systems. Voltagetransients can severely damage or destroy such micro-electroniccomponents or contacts thereby rendering the electronic equipmentinoperative, often requiring extensive repair and/or replacement at agreat cost.

Electrical interference in the form of EMI, RFI and capacitive andinductive parasitics can be created or induced into electrical circuitryand components from such sources as radio broadcast antennas or otherelectromagnetic wave generators. EMI can also be generated from theelectrical circuit, which makes shielding from EMI desirable.Differential and common mode currents are typically generated in cablesand on circuit board tracks. In many cases, fields radiate from theseconductors which act as antennas. Controlling these conducted/radiatedemissions is necessary to prevent interference with other circuitry thatis sensitive to the unwanted noise. Other sources of interference arealso generated from equipment as it operates, coupling energy to theelectrical circuitry, which may generate significant interference. Thisinterference must be eliminated to meet international emission and/orsusceptibility requirements.

Transient voltages can be induced by lightning on electrical linesproducing extremely large potentials in a very short time. In a similarmanner, electromagnetic pulses (EMP) can generate large voltage spikeswith fast rise time pulses over a broad frequency range that aredetrimental to most electronic devices. Other sources of large voltagetransients as well as ground loop interference caused by varying groundpotentials can disrupt an electrical system. Existing protection devicesare unable to provide adequate protection in a single integratedpackage. Varieties of filter and surge suppression circuitconfigurations have been designed as is evident from the prior art. Adetailed description of the various inventions in the prior art isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,430, herein incorporated by reference.

The '430 patent itself is directed to power line filter and surgeprotection circuit components and the circuits in which they are used toform a protective device for electrical equipment. These circuitcomponents comprise wafers or disks of material having desiredelectrical properties such as varistor or capacitor characteristics. Thedisks are provided with electrode patterns and insulating bands on thesurfaces thereof, which coact with apertures, formed therein, so as toelectrically connect the components to electrical conductors of a systemin a simple and effective manner. The electrode pattern coact with oneanother to form common electrodes with the material interposed between.The '430 patent was primarily directed toward filtering paired lines.Electrical systems have undergone short product life cycles over thelast decade. A system built just two years ago can be consideredobsolete to a third or fourth generation variation of the sameapplication. Accordingly, componentry and circuitry built into these thesystems need to evolve just as quickly.

The performance of a computer or other electronic systems has typicallybeen constrained by the speed of its slowest active elements. Untilrecently, those elements were the microprocessor and the memorycomponents that controlled the overall system's specific functions andcalculations. However, with the advent of new generations ofmicroprocessors, memory components and their data, there is intensepressure to provide the user increased processing power and speed at adecreasing unit cost. As a result, the engineering challenge ofconditioning the energy delivered to electrical devices has become bothfinancially and technologically difficult. Since 1980, the typicaloperating frequency of the mainstream microprocessors has increasedapproximately 240 times, from 5 MHz (million cycles per second) toapproximately to 1200 MHz+ by the end of the year 2000. Processor speedis now matched by the development and deployment of ultra-fast RAMarchitectures. These breakthroughs have allowed boosting of overallsystem speeds past the 1 GHz mark. During this same period, passivecomponentry technologies have failed to keep up and have produced onlyincremental changes in composition and performance. Advances in passivecomponent design changes have focused on component size reduction,slight modifications of discrete component electrode layering, newdielectric discoveries, and modifications of manufacturing productiontechniques that decrease component production cycle times.

In the past, passive component engineers have solved design problems byincreasing the number of components in the electrical circuit. Thesesolutions generally involved adding inductors and resistors that areused with capacitors to filter and decouple.

Not to be overlooked, however, is the existence of a major limitation inthe line conditioning ability of a single passive component and for manypassive component networks. This limitation presents an obstacle fortechnological progression and growth in the computer industry andremains as one of the last remaining challenges of the +GHz speedsystem. This constraint to high-speed system performance is centeredupon the limitations created by the supporting passive componentry thatdelivers and conditions energy and data signals to the processors,memory technologies, and those systems located outside of a particularelectronic system.

The increased speed of microprocessors and memory combinations hasresulted in another problem as evidenced by recent system failures thathave occurred with new product deployments of high-speed processors &new memory combinations by major OEMs. The current passive componenttechnology is the root cause of many of these failures and delays. Thereasons are that the operating frequency of a single passive componentgenerally has a physical line conditioning limitation of between 5 and250 MHz. Higher frequencies for the most part require combinations ofpassive elements such as discrete L-C-R, L-C, R-C networks to shape orcontrol energy delivered to the system load. At frequencies above 200MhZ, prior art, discrete L-C-R, L-C, R-C networks begin to take oncharacteristics of transmission lines and even microwave-like featuresrather than providing lump capacitance, resistance or inductance thatsuch a network was designed for. This performance disparity between thehigher operating frequency of microprocessors, clocks, power deliverybus lines and memory systems and that of the supporting passive elementshas resulted in system failures.

Additionally, at these higher frequencies, energy pathways are normallygrouped or paired as an electrically complementary element or elementsthat electrically and magnetically must work together in harmony andbalance. An obstacle to this balance is the fact that two discretecapacitors manufactured in the same production batch can easily posses avariability in capacitance, ranging anywhere from 15%-25%. While it ispossible to obtain individual variations of capacitance between discreteunits of less than 10%, a substantial premium must be paid to recoverthe costs for testing, hand sorting manufactured lots, as well as theadditional costs for the more specialized dielectrics and manufacturingtechniques that are needed to produce these devices with reducedindividual variance differences required for differential signaling.Therefore, in light of the foregoing deficiencies in the prior art, theapplicant's invention is herein presented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based upon the foregoing, there has been found a need to provide amulti-functioning electronic component which can operate across a broadfrequency range as compared to a single, prior art component or amultiple passive network. Ideally, this component would performeffectively past 1 GhZ while simultaneously providing energy decouplingfor active componentry and maintaining a constant apparent voltagepotential for portions of active circuitry. This new component wouldalso minimize or suppress unwanted electromagnetic emissions resultingfrom differential and common mode currents flowing within electroniccircuits. A multi-functioning electronic component in a multi-layeredembodiment and in a dielectric independent passive architecture can,when attached into circuitry and energized, be able to providesimultaneous line conditioning functions such as, but not limited to,the forgoing needs. These needs include source to load and/or load tosource decoupling, as well as, differential and common mode filtering,parasitic containment, and surge protection in one integrated packagewhen utilizing an external conductive area or pathway. The invention canbe utilized for protecting electronic circuitry and active electroniccomponents from electromagnetic field interference (EMI), over voltages,and preventing debilitating electromagnetic emissions attributed to thecircuitry and from the invention itself. Furthermore, the presentinvention minimizes or prevents detrimental parasitics from couplingback on to a host circuit from internally enveloped differentialconductive elements located with the invention as it operates in anenergized circuit. More specifically, this invention teaches that withproper placement techniques and attachment into circuitry, the systemcan utilize the energized physical architecture to suppresses unwantedelectromagnetic emissions, both those received from other sources, andthose created internally within the invention and it's electroniccircuitry that could potentially result in differential and common modecurrents that would be contributed as parasitics back into the hostcircuitry.

In addition, due to the multifunctional energy conditioner's physicallyintegrated, shield-containment conductive electrode architecture, theability to use an independent electrode material and/or an independentdielectric material composition when manufactured will not limit theinvention to a specific form-shape, size for the multitude of possibleembodiments of the invention that can be created and of which only a fewwill be described, herein.

Due to the highly competitive nature of today's electronic industry,such a multi-functional energy conditioner/surge protector must beinexpensive, miniaturized, low in cost, highly integrated forincorporation into a plurality of electronic products. It would bedesirable if it could operate free of any additional discrete passivecomponents to achieve the desired filtering and/or line conditioningthat prior art components are unable to provide.

It is therefore a main object of the invention to provide an easilymanufactured, adaptable, multi-functional electronic component thatprevents or suppresses electromagnetic emissions caused by differentialand common mode currents that are generated among paired energypathways.

It is another object of the invention to provide a protective circuitarrangement that may be mass produced and adaptable to include one ormore protective circuits in one component package to provide protectionagainst voltage transients, over voltages, parasitic sandelectromagnetic interference.

It is another object of the invention to provide a discrete,multi-functioning electronic component, that when attached to anexternal conductive pathway or surface could operate effectively acrossa broad frequency range and could simultaneously provide energydecoupling for active circuit componentry while maintaining a constantapparent voltage potential for portions of circuitry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blocking circuit orcircuits utilizing an inherent ground which is combined with an externalconductive surface or ground area that provides an additional energypathway from the paired differential conductors for attenuating EMI andover voltages without having to couple the hybrid electronic componentto a final earth ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single device thateliminates the need to use specialized dielectrics commonly used toobtain a minimized degree of variation of capacitance between internalcapacitor plates.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplishedthrough the use of a plurality of common conductive plates that arejoined and partially surrounding corresponding differentially conductiveelectrode plates that are separated by a material that exhibits any oneor a combination of a number of predetermined electrical properties.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are accomplished bycoupling pairs of conductors into an area or space partially envelopedby a plurality of joined common conductive plates and by selectivelycoupling external conductors or pathways to differential electrodeplates.

It is another object of the invention to provide line-to-line andline-to-ground capacitive or inductive coupling between internal platesand/or conductive electrodes that create a state of effectivedifferential and common mode electromagnetic interference filteringand/or surge protection. Additionally, a circuit arrangement utilizingthe invention will comprise of at least one line conditioning circuitcomponent constructed as a plate. Electrode patterns are provided on onesurface of the plate and the electrode surfaces are then electricallycoupled to electrical conductors of the circuit. The electrode patterns,dielectric material employed and common conductive plates producecommonality between electrodes for the electrical conductors producing abalanced (equal but opposite) circuit arrangement with an electricalcomponent coupled line-to-line between the electrical conductors andline-to-ground from the individual electrical conductors. The particularelectrical effects of the multi-functional energy conditioner aredetermined by the choice of material between the electrode plates andthe use of ground shields which effectively house the electrode plateswithin one or more created Faraday like shield cages. If one specificdielectric material is chosen, the resulting multi-functional energyconditioner will be primarily a capacitive arrangement. The dielectricmaterial in conjunction with the electrode plates and common conductiveplates will combine to create a line-to-line capacitor that isapproximately ½ the value of the capacitance of the two line-to-groundcapacitors make up an attached and energized invention. If a metal oxidevaristor (MOV) material is used, then the multi-functional energyconditioner will be a capacitive multi-functional energy conditionerwith over current and surge protection characteristics provided by theMOV-type material. The common conductive plates and electrode plateswill once again form line-to-line and line-to-ground capacitive plates,providing differential and common mode filtering accept in the case ofhigh transient voltage conditions. During these conditions, the MOV-typevaristor material, which is essentially a non-linear resistor used tosuppress high voltage transients, will take effect to limit the voltagethat may appear between the electrical conductors.

In a further embodiment, a ferrite material may be used addingadditional inherent inductance to the multi-functional energyconditioner arrangement. As before, the common ground conductive andelectrode plates form line-to-line and line-to-ground capacitive plateswith the ferrite material adding inductance to the arrangement. Use ofthe ferrite material also provides transient voltage protection in thatit to will become conductive at a certain voltage threshold allowing theexcess transient voltage to be shunted to the common conductive plates,effectively limiting the voltage across the electrical conductors.

Numerous other arrangements and configurations are also disclosed whichimplement and build on the above objects and advantages of the inventionto demonstrate the versatility and wide spread application ofmulti-functional energy conditioners within the scope of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a multi-functional energyconditioner in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A shows an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofthe multi-functional energy conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 provides a circuit schematic representation of the physicalarchitecture when placed into a larger electrical system and energized;

FIG. 3A is a common mode noise insertion loss comparison graph comparingthe multi-functional energy conditioner of FIG. 1 with a filtercomprised of a prior art capacitor showing insertion loss as a functionof signal frequency;

FIG. 3B is a differential mode noise insertion loss comparison graphcomparing the multi-functional energy conditioner of FIG. 1 with afilter comprised of a prior art capacitor showing insertion loss as afunction of signal frequency;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a multi-conductormulti-functional energy conditioner for use in connector applications;

FIG. 5A shows a schematic representation of a multi-capacitor componentas found in the prior art;

FIG. 5B shows a schematic representation of the physical embodiment ofthe multi-functional energy conditioner of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a surface mount chip embodiment of a multi-functionalenergy conditioner with FIG. 6A being a perspective view and FIG. 6Bshowing an exploded perspective view of the same;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the individual film platesthat comprise a further embodiment of a multi-functional energyconditioner;

FIG. 8 shows a further alternative embodiment of the multi-functionalenergy conditioner configured for use with electric motors; FIG. 8Ashows a top plan view of the motor multi-functional energy conditionerembodiment; FIG. 8B shows a side elevation view of the same; FIG. 8Cshows a side elevation view in cross-section of the same; and FIG. 8D isa schematic representation of the physical embodiment of themulti-functional energy conditioner shown in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 shows the motor multi-functional energy conditioner utilizing oneattachment embodiment electrically and physically coupled to an electricmotor; FIG. 9A shows a top plan view of the multi-functional energyconditioner coupled to a motor and FIG. 9B shows a side elevation viewof the same;

FIG. 9C is a logarithmic graph showing a comparison of the emissionlevels in dBuV/m as a function of frequency for an electric motor with astandard filter and an electric motor with the differential and commonmode filter of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10A is a top plan view of a shielded twisted pair feed throughmulti-functional energy conditioner; and FIG. 10B is a top plan view ofthe generally parallel elements that comprise the shielded twisted pairfeed through multi-functional energy conditioner of FIG. 10A; and FIG.10C and FIG. 10D are schematic representations of a shielded twistedpair feed through multi-functional energy conditioner showingdifferential noise cancellation; and FIG. 10E and FIG. 10F are schematicrepresentations of a shielded twisted pair feed through multi-functionalenergy conditioner showing common mode noise cancellation;

FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in a bypassconfiguration in accordance with the present invention followed by acomposite top plan view and a composite side elevation view of themulti-functional energy conditioner;

FIG. 12 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in afeed-through configuration in accordance with the present inventionfollowed by a composite top plan view and a composite side elevationview of the multi-functional energy conditioner;

FIG. 13 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in afeed-through configuration in accordance with the present inventionfollowed by a composite top plan view and a composite side elevationalview of the multi-functional energy conditioner;

FIG. 14 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in across-over, feed-through configuration in accordance with the presentinvention followed by a composite top plan view and a composite sideelevation view of the multi-functional energy conditioner;

FIG. 15 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in across-over, feed-through configuration with additional common shieldisolator in accordance with the present invention followed by acomposite top plan view and a composite side elevation view of themulti-functional energy conditioner;

FIG. 16 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in across-over, feed-through configuration in accordance with the presentinvention followed by a composite top plan view and a composite sideelevational view of the multi-functional energy conditioner;

FIG. 17 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in a bypassconfiguration with additional common shield isolator in accordance withthe present invention followed by a composite top plan view and acomposite side elevational view of the multi-functional energyconditioner;

FIG. 18 shows a top plan view of the common conductive electrode shieldplates and differential electrode plates which make up an alternateembodiment of the multi-functional energy conditioner placed in a bypassconfiguration with additional common shield isolator in accordance withthe present invention followed by a composite top plan view and acomposite side elevational view of the multi-functional energyconditioner;

FIG. 19 shows a top plan view of a portion of a Faraday shield-like cagestructure in accordance with the present invention having a commonconductive plate shown offset to reveal a portion of the Faraday cagearchitecture including a differential electrode plate;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Continued and increasing use of electronics in daily life and the amountof electromagnetic interference (EMI) and emissions generated hascreated new electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements. These newspecifications apply to diverse electronic equipment such as but notlimited to and in particular IC (Integrated Circuit) packages, PCBs,DSPs, microcontrollers, switch mode power supplies, networks,connectors, avionics, wireless phones, consumer electronics, tools,ordnance igniters, and control equipment. The present invention isdirected towards a physical architecture for an electronic componentthat provides simultaneous and effective EMI suppression; lineconditioning, broadband I/O-line filtering, EMI decoupling noisereduction and surge protection in one integrated component or assembly.

To propagate electromagnetic interference energy two fields arerequired, an electric and magnetic. Electric fields couple energy intocircuits through the voltage differential between two or more points.Changing electrical fields in a space give rise to a magnetic field. Anytime-varying magnetic flux will give rise to an electric field. As aresult, a purely electric or purely magnetic time-varying fields cannotexist independent of each other. Passive component architecture such asthe invention can be built to condition or minimize both types of energyfields that can be found in an electrical system. The invention is notnecessarily built to condition one type of field more than another,however, different types of materials can be added or used to build anembodiment that could do such specific conditioning upon one energyfield over another.

The accumulation of an electric charge creates an electrostatic fieldand this accumulation can best be observed between two boundaries, oneconductive and the other nonconductive. The boundary condition behaviorreferenced in Gauss's law causes a conductive enclosure orsemi-enclosure called a Faraday cage or Faraday cage-like structure toact as an electrostatic shield in relationship to conductive elementscontained or located partially inside the shield-like structure. Nearthe boundary of the shield structure, electrical charges and parasiticsare for the most part kept inside of the shield boundary. In turn, theelectrical charges and parasitics that exist on the outside of thecage-like shield boundary are excluded for the most part, fromdetrimentally affecting internally generated fields related to theconductors held within. Coupled electric and magnetic fields have theability in nature to propagate along at the speed of light unless theenergy field propagating along a conductive pathway meets with animpedance or resistance along said pathway that hinders the propagatingfield energy from doing so. This impedance or resistance contributes tothe concept of “skin effect,” which predicts the effectiveness ofmagnetic shielding in relationship to the materials that make up aconductive pathway.

As previously, noted, propagated electromagnetic interference can be theproduct of both electric and magnetic fields, respectively. Untilrecently, emphasis in the art has been placed upon on filtering EMI fromcircuit or energy conductors carrying high frequency noise with DCenergy or current. However, the invention is capable of conditioningenergy that uses DC, AC and AC/DC hybrid-type propagation of energyalong conductive pathways found in an electrical system or testequipment. This includes use of the invention to condition energy insystems that contain many different types of energy propagation formatsfound in systems containing many kinds of circuitry propagationcharacteristics within the same electrical system platform. The maincause of radiated emission problems can be due to the two types ofconducted currents, differential and common mode energy. The fieldsgenerated by these currents result in many types of EMI emissions.Differential mode (DM) currents are those currents that flow in acircular path in wires, circuit board traces and other conductors. Thefields related to these currents originate from the loop defined by theconductors.

Higher operating frequencies of circuitry for the most part, require theuser to develop combinations of single or multiple passive elements suchas inductors, capacitors, or resistors to create L-C-R, L-C, and R-Cdiscrete component networks used to control energy delivered to a systemload. However, prior art, discrete, L-C-R, L-C, R-C component networksat frequencies above 200 Mhz begin to take on characteristics oftransmission lines, or can even exhibit microwave-like features at stillhigher frequencies. This can allow unsuppressed or undiminishedparasitics, or the connection structures that combine externally betweenall of the discrete elements into said network, to degrade, slow down orotherwise contribute noticeable degradation of the energy propagatingalong the circuit over a wide range of frequency operations. This can besubstantially harmful to the larger circuit said network is attachedinto. Rather than providing a lump capacitance, resistance or inductancethat such a network was designed for, at higher frequencies, capacitiveparasitics that are attributed to the internal electrodes located insideprior art component networks can be one of many reasons or sources ofenergy degradation, debilitation or sub-specified performance to thecircuit. Said sub-par performance losses such as, but not limited to,data drop, line delays, etc. and can contribute to a measurable circuitin-efficiency.

Common mode and differential mode energies differ in that they propagatein different circuit paths. Common mode noise will can be causedelectrostatic induction which results from un-equal capacitance betweenconductive pathways and the surroundings. Noise voltage developed, willbe the same on both wires and/or, it can be caused by electromagneticinduction magnetic fields from a conductive pathway linking paired ormultiple conductive pathways un-equally with any noise voltagedeveloped, essentially, the same; on both paired, conductive pathways.Noise energy will travel on the outer skin surface of conductors.Differential noise, is normally created by voltage imbalance within anenergized circuit, Interference that causes the potential of one side ofthe signal transmission path to be change relative to the other side.

To help reduce, minimize or suppress the unwanted noise, the energizedinvention utilizes a low impedance path that develops internally, withinthe invention to take portions of the unwanted energy to a conductiveground and/or an external (to the invention) conductive area or pathway.Portions of this pathway can also be located internally within theinvention and include portions of the common conductive plates or thestructure they make up. The common conductive plates or structure andthe extension of the external conductive area created, will allow energypropagating along these conductive shield pathway elements to move to alarger, externally located conductive area, pathway or system groundthat is situated primarily outside of the internally positioned commonconductive plate area(s) or shield-like structure that make up portionsof the invention.

Possible external connections and/or attachments of a plurality ofinvention common conductive pathways to pathways' external of themultilayer embodiment of the invention can be made by a multitude ofpossible industry accepted means know to the art. Such conductiveattachments of common conductive plates or the attachments to aconductive shield-like structure that are made from a combination ofthese joined, common plate elements and to an external conductivepathway, separate, in most cases, from the differential conductivepathways, also conductively attached to the multi-functional energyconditioner will provide a shortening of the overall noise current looparea created in an energized circuit, also containing a source,multi-functional energy conditioner, conductive pathways and a load.

At least two energy loops are created when the invention is attached andenergize within a circuit, with the created energy loops in parallel,but on opposite sides of a center, common conductive plate or pathway.These energy loops are propagating 180 degrees out-of-phase with respectto one another, thus, opposing energy will cancel and noise is minimizedor suppressed. An energized configuration containing multi-functionalenergy conditioner within a larger, energized circuitry, will alsoprovide a plurality of potential conductive pathways, internal tomulti-functional energy conditioner, that can be used by portions ofenergy propagating from an energy source(s) to a load or loads.

The common shielding conductive plates and/or portions of theshield-like structure made of the plate elements, when used bypropagating energy from a source or from a load as a return path toenergy source, will have a short distance of separation or loop areabetween portions of paired differential conductive paths and a returnpath, when the common conductive structure or common conductive plates,are used by portions of propagating energy as one, or more energy returnpathways, back to its' (the portions of propagating energy's) source.

When attached to respective, external conductors or pathways, a portionof the loop area is located internal to the multi-functional energyconditioner, with the interposing, dielectric material providing adistance between a differential conductive plate or pathway and a commonconductive plate or pathway. Portions of the circuits' propagatingenergy can move along, internal to the multi-functional energyconditioner, with portions of the circuits' propagating energy movingfrom a source to a load moving oppositely to that of portions of thecircuits' propagating energy moving from a load back to a source withina circuit mounted, multi-functional energy conditioner.

Oppositely propagating energy, as just described, will be separated bythe central common conductive shield pathway, yet, contained in theFaraday cage-like shield structure, with interposing dielectric medium,all internally within the multi-functional energy conditioner. Thisoppositely propagating energy will be simultaneously conditioned, withrespect to the Faraday cage-like shield structure's electrostaticproperties and by mutually canceling magnetic fields principals withinthe short distance of separation, as just described.

Grouped, common conductive electrodes or paths, physically shield mostof the area of the paired differential energy conductive plates orpathways from one another, and allow close distance proximity of thesedifferential conductive pathways to function, when energized,oppositely, and in close proximity, always separated by a common shieldpathway, to still co-act in a complementary or harmonious manner and toprovide effective, energy conditioning internally within themulti-functional energy conditioner.

Portions of the circuit energy in a conditioner of the present inventionwill, at some point in time, propagate between portions of two distinctcommon conductive plate areas along or on a differential conductor thatis separated from the respective common conductive plate areas by adielectric medium, as portions of said energy propagates internallywithin the multi-functional energy conditioner is in operation with anenergized circuit.

Turning now to FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of multi-functionalenergy conditioner 10's physical architecture is shown. Multi-functionalenergy conditioner 10 is comprised of a plurality of common conductiveplates 14 at least two electrode plates 16A and 16B where each electrodeplate 16 is sandwiched between two common conductive plates 14. At leastone pair of electrical conductors 12 a and 12 b is disposed throughinsulating apertures 18 or coupling apertures 20 of the plurality ofcommon conductive plates 14 and electrode plates 16A and 16B withelectrical conductors 12 a and 12 b also being selectively connected tocoupling apertures 20 of electrode plates 16A and 16B. Common conductiveplates 14 consist entirely of a conductive material such as metal in thepreferred embodiment or in a different embodiment, can have conductivematerial deposited onto a dielectric laminate (not shown) similar toprocesses used to manufacture chip capacitors and the like. At least onepair of insulating apertures 18 are disposed through each common groundconductive plate 14 to allow electrical conductors 12 to pass throughwhile maintaining electrical isolation between common conductive plates14 and electrical conductors 12. The plurality of common conductiveplates 14 may optionally be equipped with fastening apertures 22arranged in a predetermined and matching position to enable each of theplurality of common conductive plates 14 to be coupled securely to oneanother through standard fastening means such as screws and bolts or inalternative embodiments (not shown) that can be manufactured and joinedinto a standard monolithic-like fashion similar to the processes used tomanufacture chip capacitors and the like. Fastening apertures 22 mayalso be used to secure multi-functional energy conditioner 10 to anothernon-conductive or conductive surface such as an enclosure or chassis ofthe electronic device multi-functional energy conditioner 10 is beingused in conjunction with.

Electrode plates 16A and 16B are similar to common conductive plates 14in that they are comprised of a conductive material or in a differentembodiment, can have conductive material deposited onto a dielectriclaminate (not shown) similar to the processes used to manufacture chipcapacitors and the like and have electrical conductors 12 a and 12 bdisposed through apertures. Unlike common conductive plates 14,electrode plates 16A and 16B are selectively electrically connected toone of the two electrical conductors 12. While electrode plates 16, asshown in FIG. 1, are depicted as smaller than common conductive plates14 this is not required but in this configuration has been done toprevent electrode plates 16 from interfering with the physical couplingmeans of fastening apertures 22 and should be ideally inset, within thecommon conductive plates 14.

Electrical conductors 12 provide a current path that flows in thedirection indicated by the arrows positioned at either end of theelectrical conductors 12 a and 12 b as shown in FIG. 1. Electricalconductor 12 a represents an electrical signal conveyance path andelectrical conductor 12 b represents the signal return path. While onlyone pair of electrical conductors 12 a and 12 b is shown, Applicantcontemplates multi-functional energy conditioner 10 being configured toprovide filtering for a plurality of pairs of electrical conductorscreating a high-density multi-conductor multi-functional energyconditioner.

The final element which makes up multi-functional energy conditioner 10is material 28 which has one or a number of electrical properties andsurrounds the center common ground conductive plate 14, both electrodeplates 16A and 16B and the portions of electrical conductors 12 a and 12b passing between the two outer common conductive plates 14 in a mannerwhich isolates the plates and conductors from one another except for theconnection created by the conductors 12 a and 12 b and coupling aperture20. The electrical characteristics of multi-functional energyconditioner 10 are determined by the selection of material 28. If adielectric material is chosen multi-functional, energy conditioner 10will have primarily capacitive characteristics. Material 28 may also bea metal oxide varistor material that will provide capacitive and surgeprotection characteristics. Other materials such as ferrites andsintered polycrystalline may be used wherein ferrite materials providean inherent inductance along with surge protection characteristics inaddition to the improved common mode noise cancellation that resultsfrom the mutual coupling cancellation effect. The sinteredpolycrystalline material provides conductive, dielectric, and magneticproperties. Sintered polycrystalline is described in detail in U.S. Pat.No. 5,500,629, which is herein incorporated by reference.

An additional material that may be used is a composite of highpermittivity Ferro-electric material and a high permeabilityferromagnetic material as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,196, which isincorporated by reference herein. Such a ferroelectric-ferromagneticcomposite material can be formed as a compact unitary element whichsingularly exhibits both inductive and capacitive properties so as toact as an LC-type electrical filter. The compactness, formability, andfiltering capability of such an element is useful for suppressingelectromagnetic interference. In one embodiment, the ferroelectricmaterial is barium titanate and the ferromagnetic material is a ferritematerial such as one based upon a copper zinc ferrite. The capacitiveand inductive characteristics of the ferroelectric-ferromagneticcomposites exhibit attenuation capabilities which show no signs ofleveling off at frequencies as high as 1 GhZ. The geometry of theferroelectric-ferromagnetic composite will significantly affect theultimate capacitive and inductive nature of an electrical filter thatemploys such a composite. The composite can be adjusted during itsmanufacturing process to enable the particular properties of amulti-functional energy conditioner to be tuned to produce suitableattenuation for specific applications and environments.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the physical relationship of commonconductive plates 14, electrode plates 16A and 16B, electricalconductors 12 a and 12 b and material 28 will now be described in moredetail. The starting point is center common ground conductive plate 14.Center plate 14 has the pair of electrical conductors 12 a and 12 bdisposed through their respective insulating apertures 18 which maintainelectrical isolation between common ground conductive plate 14 and bothelectrical conductors 12 a and 12 b. On either side, both above andbelow, of center common ground conductive plate 14 are electrode plates16A and 16B each having the pair of electrical conductors 12 a and 12 bdisposed there through. Unlike center common ground conductive plate 14,only one electrical conductor, 12 a or 12 b, is isolated from eachelectrode plate, 16A or 16B, by an insulating aperture 18. One of thepair of electrical conductors, 12 a or 12 b, is electrically coupled tothe associated electrode plate 16A or 16B respectively through couplingaperture 20. Coupling aperture 20 interfaces with one of the pair ofelectrical conductors 12 through a standard connection such as a solderweld, a resistive fit or any other method which will provide a solid andsecure electrical connection. For multi-functional energy conditioner 10to function properly, upper electrode plate 16A must be electricallycoupled to the opposite electrical conductor 12 a than that to whichlower electrode plate 16B is electrically coupled, that being electricalconductor 12 b. Multi-functional energy conditioner 10 optionallycomprises a plurality of outer common conductive plates 14. These outercommon conductive plates 14 provide a significantly larger conductiveground plane and/or image plane when the plurality of common conductiveplates 14 are electrically connected to an outer edge conductive band,conductive termination material or attached directly by tension seatingmeans or commonly used solder-like materials to an larger externalconductive surface (not shown) that are physically separate of thedifferentially conductive plates 16 a and 16 b and/or any plurality ofelectrical conductors such as 12 a and 12 b for example. Connection ofcommon conductive plates 14 to an external conductive area helps withattenuation of radiated electromagnetic emissions and provides a greatersurface area in which to dissipate over voltages and surges.

Connection of common conductive plates 14 to an external conductive areahelps electrostatic suppression of any inductive or parasitic straysthat can radiate or be absorbed by differentially conductive plates 16 aand 16 b and/or any plurality of differential electrical conductors suchas 12 a and 12 b for example.

Principals of a Faraday cage-like structure are used when the commonplates are joined to one another as described above and the grouping ofcommon conductive plates together co-act with the larger externalconductive area or surface to suppress radiated electromagneticemissions and provide a greater conductive surface area in which todissipate over voltages and surges and initiate Faraday cage-likeelectrostatic suppression of parasitics and other transients,simultaneously. This is particularly true when plurality of commonconductive plates 14 are electrically coupled to earth ground (notshown) but are relied upon to provide an inherent ground for a circuitin which the invention is placed into an energized with. As mentionedearlier, inserted and maintained between common conductive plates 14 andboth electrode plates 16A and 16B is material 28 which can be one ormore of a plurality of materials having different electricalcharacteristics.

FIG. 1A shows an alternative embodiment of multi-functional energyconditioner 10 which includes additional means of coupling electricalconductors or circuit board connections to multi-functional energyconditioner 10. Essentially, the plurality of common conductive plates14 are electrically connected together by the sharing of a separatelylocated outer edge conductive band or bands 14 a and/or 14 b (not shown)at each conductive electrode exit and which in turn, are then joinedand/or connected to the same external conductive surface (not shown)that can possess a voltage potential when the invention is placed into aportion of a larger circuit (not shown) and energized. This voltagepotential co-acts with the external conductive surface area or areasthrough bands 14 a and/or 14 b (not shown) and the internal commonconductive electrodes 14 of the embodiment as well as any of theconductive elements that are needed to utilize a connection that allowsenergy to propagate. In addition, each differential electrode plate 16Aand 16B has its own outer edge conductive bands or surface, 40 a and 40b respectively. To provide electrical connections between electrodeplate 16A and 16B and their respective conductive band 40 a and 40 bwhile at the same time maintaining electrical isolation between otherportions of multi-functional energy conditioner 10, each electrode plate16 is elongated and positioned such that the elongated portion ofelectrode plate 16A is directed opposite of the direction electrodeplate 16B is directed. The elongated portions of electrode plates 16also extend beyond the distance in which the plurality of commonconductive plates 14 extend with the additional distance isolated fromouter edge conductive bands 40 a and 40 b by additional material 28.Electrical connection between each of the bands 14 a and/or 14 b (notshown) and their associated plates 14 is accomplished through physicalcontact between each 14 a and 14 b (not shown) band and its associatedcommon conductive or conductive electrode plate 14, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows a quasi-schematic circuit representation of an energizedportion of a circuit when the physical embodiment of multi-functionalenergy conditioner 10 is mated into a larger circuit and energized.Line-to-line capacitor 30 is comprised of electrode plates 16A and 16B,where electrode plate 16A is coupled to one of the pair of electricalconductors 12 a with the other electrode plate 16B being coupled to theopposite electrical conductor 12 b, thereby providing the two parallelplates necessary to form a capacitor. Center common ground conductiveplate 14 is an essential element among all embodiments or connotationsof the invention and when joined with the sandwiching outer two commonconductive plates 14 together, act as inherent ground 34 and 34 b whichdepicts band 14A and 14B (not shown) as connecting to a larger externalconductive area 34 (not shown) and line-to-line capacitor 30 and alsoserves as one of the two parallel plates for each line-to-groundcapacitor 32.

The second parallel plate required for each line-to-ground capacitor 32is supplied by the corresponding electrode plate 16B. By carefullyreferencing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the capacitive plate relationships willbecome apparent. By isolating center common ground conductive plate 14from each electrode plate 16A or 16B with material 28 having electricalproperties, the result is a capacitive network having a common modebypass capacitor 30 extending between electrical conductors 12 a and 12b and line-to-ground decoupling capacitors 32 coupled from eachelectrical conductor 12 a and 12 b to larger external conductive area34.

The larger external conductive area 34 will be described in more detaillater but for the time being it may be more intuitive to assume that itis equivalent to earth or circuit ground. The larger external conductivearea 34, can be coupled with the center and the additional commonconductive plates 14 to join with the central plate 14 to form, one ormore of common conductive plates 14 that are conductively joined and canbe coupled to circuit or earth ground by common means of the art such asa soldering or mounting screws inserted through fastening apertures 22which are then coupled to an enclosure or grounded chassis (not shown)of an electrical device.

While multi-functional energy conditioner 10 works equally well withinherent ground 34B coupled to earth or circuit ground 34, one advantageof multi-functional energy conditioner 10's physical architecture isthat depending upon energy condition that is needed, a physicalgrounding connection can be unnecessary in some specific applications.

Referring again to FIG. 1 an additional feature of multi-functionalenergy conditioner 10 is demonstrated by clockwise and counterclockwiseflux fields, 24 and 26 respectively. The direction of the individualflux fields 24 and 26, is determined and may be mapped by applyingAmpere's Law and using the right hand rule. In doing so, an individualplaces their thumb parallel to and pointed in the direction of currentflow through electrical conductors 12 a or 12 b as indicated by thearrows at either ends of the conductors. Once the thumb is pointed inthe same direction as the current flow, the direction in which theremaining fingers on the person's hand curve indicates the direction ofrotation for the flux fields 24 and 26. Because electrical conductors 12a and 12 b are positioned next to one another and they can alsorepresent a more than one current loop as found in many I/O and dataline configurations, the currents entering and leaving multi-functionalenergy conditioner 10 oppose one another, thereby creating a closelypositioned opposed flux fields 24, and 26 which cancel each other andminimize inductance attributed to the device. Low inductance isadvantageous in modem I/O and high-speed data lines as the increasedswitching speeds and fast pulse rise times of modern equipment createunacceptable voltage spikes which can only be managed by low inductancesurge devices and networks.

It should also be evident that labor intensive aspects of usingmulti-functional energy conditioner 10 as compared to combining discretecomponents found in the prior art provides an easy and cost effectivemethod of manufacturing. Because connections only need to be made toeither ends of electrical conductors 12 to provide a line to linecapacitance to the circuit that is approx. ½ the value of thecapacitance measured for each of the line to ground capacitance alsodeveloped internally within the embodiment and this provides flexibilityfor the user as well as providing a potential savings in time and spacein manufacturing a larger electrical system utilizing the invention.

FIG. 3A shows a comparison of a common mode insertion loss measurementstaken for a multi-functional energy conditioner 10 shown in FIG. 1measuring line to line capacitance of 0.20 uF against the response ofthrough-hole capacitor of the prior art 50 (not shown) of the sameapproximately the same physical size diameter. The graph shows thatprior art capacitor 50 configured line-to-line with a capacitance valueof 0.47 uF performs differently as compared with the performance ofmulti-functional energy conditioner 10 has a capacitance value of 0.20uF, line to line. When both multi-functional energy conditioner 10 and50 are attached to external conductive area 34, multi-functional energyconditioner 10 demonstrates a significant and wide difference ininsertion loss readings shown for frequencies up to 1200 MHZ, (which wasthe limit of the testing equipment) than does capacitor 50.

FIG. 3B shows a comparison of a differential mode measurements the samemulti-functional energy conditioner 10 used in FIG. 3A and is relativeto the response of the same through-hole capacitor of the prior art 50(not shown) as measured in FIG. 3A. When multi-functional energyconditioner 10 and prior art capacitor 50 are both attached to externalconductive area 34, multi-functional energy conditioner 10 demonstratesa significant and wide difference in insertion losses shown forfrequencies up to 1200 MHZ, (which was the limit of the testingequipment).

Graph in FIG. 3B shows that a reading of prior art capacitor 50configured line-to-ground with capacitance value of 0.47 uF is differentfrom multi-functional energy conditioner 10 which has a line to groundcapacitance value of 0.40 uF for one capacitor side of conditioner 10and is approx. twice the value of the line to line capacitance value of0.20 uF measured from multi-functional energy conditioner 10 before testin FIG. 3A.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is differential andcommon mode multi-conductor filter 110 shown in FIG. 4. Filter 110 issimilar to multi-functional energy conditioner of FIGS. 1 and 1A in thatit is comprised of a plurality of common conductive plates 112 and aplurality of conductive electrodes 118 a thru 118 h to form differentialmode coupling capacitors and common mode decoupling capacitorarrangements which act on a plurality of pairs of electrical conductors,not shown in FIG. 4 but similar to electrical conductors 12 a and 12 bshown in FIGS. 1 and 1A. As described earlier for the single pairconductor multi-functional energy conditioner shown in FIG. 1, commonconductive plates 112, conductive electrodes 118 and the plurality ofelectrical conductors are isolated from one another by a pre-selectedmaterial 122 having predetermined electrical characteristics such asdielectric material, ferrite material, MOV-type material and sinteredpolycrystalline material. Each of the plurality of common conductiveplates 112 has a plurality of insulating apertures 114 in whichelectrical conductors pass while maintaining electrical isolation fromthe respective common conductive plates 112. To accommodate a pluralityof electrical conductor pairs, multi-functional energy conditioner 110must employ a modified version of the electrode plates described inFIGS. 1 and 1A.

To provide multiple independent conductive electrodes for each pair ofelectrical conductors, a support material 116 comprised of one of thematerials 122 containing desired electrical properties is used. Supportplate 116B is comprised of a plurality of conductive electrodes 118 b,118 c, 118 e and 118 h printed upon one side of plate 116B with onecoupling aperture 120 per electrode. Support plate 116A is alsocomprised of a plurality of conductive electrodes 118 a, 118 d, 118 fand 118 g printed upon one side of plate 116A. Support plates 116A and116B are separated and surrounded by a plurality of common conductiveplates 112 which together excluding conductive materials are generallymade up of material 122 so to allow respective plates to be melded orlaminated and/or fused together during the manufacturing process bystandard means known in the art. Conductive electrode materials andinsulating structures as just described are also added or deposited bystandard means known in the art as well in the manufacturing process.

A conductive termination material 112D is also applied to the sides ofplates 112 during manufacturing so that termination material 112D allowsa conductive connection of at least the perimeter of invention 110s'plurality of common conductive plate electrodes 112A, 112B, 112C to bejoined conductively together to form a single conductive structurecapable of sharing a same conductive pathway to an external conductivearea 34 or surface (not shown) when placed into a circuit and energized.The pairs of incoming electrical conductors each have a correspondingelectrode pair within multi-functional energy conditioner 110. Althoughnot shown, the electrical conductors pass through the common conductiveplates 112 and the respective conductive electrodes. Connections areeither made or not made through the selection of coupling apertures 120and insulating apertures 114. The common conductive plates 112 incooperation with conductive electrodes 118 a thru 118 h performessentially the same function as electrode plates 16A and 16B of FIGS. 1and 1A.

FIG. 5 shows schematic diagrams of prior art multi-capacitor componentsand differential and common mode multi-conductor multi-functional energyconditioner 110 of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a schematic ofprior art capacitor array 130. Essentially, a plurality of capacitors132 are formed and coupled to one another to provide common ground 136for array 130 with open terminals 134 provided for connecting electricalconductors to each capacitor 132. These prior art capacitor arrays onlyallowed common mode decoupling of individual electrical conductors whenopen terminal 134 of each capacitor 132 was electrically connected toindividual electrical conductors.

FIG. 5B shows a schematic representation of differential and common modemulti-conductor multi-functional energy conditioner 10 having fourdifferential and common mode filter pin pair arrangements. Thehorizontal line extending through each pair of electrodes represents thecommon conductive plate electrodes 112A, 112B and 112C with the linesencircling the pairs being the conductive isolation material 112 a. Theconductive isolation material 112 a is electrically coupled to commonconductive plate electrodes 112A, 112B and 112C and side conductivetermination material 112D to provide a conductive grid that is furtherseparated from electrode plates 118 a through 118 h by areas left freeof conductive material that allows a separation of each of theconductive electrode plates 118 a through 118 h from one another and theconductive grid, as well. The corresponding conductive electrodes 118 athru 118 h positioned on support material plates 116A and 116B, bothabove and below the center common ground conductive plate 112, and formline-to-ground common mode decoupling capacitors. Each conductive plateelectrodes 118 a thru 118 h, common conductive plate electrodes 112A,112B and 112C and support material plates 116A and 116B, are separatedfrom the others by dielectric material 122. When multi-functional energyconditioner 110 is connected to paired, electrical conductors viacoupling apertures 120 such as those found in electrode plates 118 a and118 c, multi-functional energy conditioner 110 forms a common mode anddifferential mode filter.

Again referring to FIG. 4, multi-conductor multi-functional energyconditioner 110 is shown having not only a center common conductiveplate electrode 112B but also outer common conductive plates 112A and112C. As described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 1A these outer commonconductive plates and common conductive electrodes 112A, and 112C whenjoined together to each other and with each respective inventionscentral common conductive plate 14 or central common conductiveelectrode 112B and an external conductive area 34, (not shown) provide asignificantly larger conductive pathway or area for multi-functionalenergy conditioner 110 to simultaneously suppress and/or minimize and/orattenuate radiated and conductive electromagnetic emissions of thepaired conductors and provide shielding between said conductive platesand electrodes of FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A or other invention embodiments, andprovide a greater surface area to dissipate and/or absorb over voltages,surges and other transient noise, and effectively acts as a Faradaycage-like shield when energized.

One trend found throughout modem electronic devices is the continuousminiaturization of equipment and the electronic components that make upthat equipment. Capacitors, the key component in multi-functional energyconditioner arrangements, have been no exception and their size hascontinually decreased to the point where they may be formed in siliconand imbedded within integrated circuits only seen with the use of amicroscope. One miniaturized capacitor which has become quite prevalentis the chip capacitor which is significantly smaller than standardthrough hole or leaded capacitors. Chip capacitors employ surface mounttechnology to physically and electrically connect to electricalconductors and traces found on circuit boards. The versatility of thearchitecture of the multi-functional energy conditioner of the presentinvention extends to surface mount technology as shown in FIG. 6.Surface mount multi-functional energy conditioner 400 is shown in FIG.6A with its internal construction shown in FIG. 6B. Referring to FIG.6B, common conductive support plate 412 is sandwiched between firstdifferential support plate 410 and second support differential plate414. Common conductive support plate 412 and first and seconddifferential support plates 410 and 414 are each comprised of material430 having desired electrical properties dependent upon the materialchosen. As for all embodiments of the present invention, Applicantcontemplates the use of a variety of materials such as but not limitedto dielectric material, MOV-type material, ferrite material, film suchas Mylar and newer exotic substances such as sintered polycrystalline.

First differential support plate 410 includes conductive electrode 416coupled to the top surface of material 430 in a manner which leavesisolation band 418 surrounding the outer perimeter of first differentialplate 416 along three of its four sides. Isolation band 418 is simply aportion of material 430 that has not been covered by conductiveelectrode 416. Second differential plate 426 is essentially identical tofirst differential plate 416 with the exception being its physicalorientation with respect to that of first differential plate 416. Seconddifferential support plate 414 is comprised of material 430 havingconductive electrode 426 coupled to the top surface of material 430 insuch a manner as to leave isolation band 428 surrounding the outerperimeter of second differential plate 426 along three of its foursides. What is important to note about first and second differentialplates 416 and 426's physical orientation with respect to one another isthat the one side of each plate in which isolation bands 418 and 428 donot circumscribe are arranged 180 degrees apart from one another. It isalso important to note about first and second differential plates 416and 426's physical orientation with respect to the common conductiveplate 424 is that all though not shown, but further explained in FIG.19.

The conductive area of each differential electrodes 416 and 426respectively, are physically shielded from the other by theinterpositioned central common conductive electrode 424 such that theboundary or perimeter of each respective differential electrode 416 and426 is inset with respect to the common conductive electrode 424 borderor perimeter to a degree that the common conductive plate 424registration area or under lap area allows the common conductive plate424 to appear oversized in relation to the equally-sized differentialconductive plates 416 and 426 that sandwich said common conductive plate412.

With respect to the common conductive electrode 424 and the range of theover lap with respect to the equally sized differential plates 416 and426 can be essentially inset to a degree that when energized theentrapment of parasitics attempting to escape or enter the area occupiedby differential electrodes 416 and 426 is sufficient to prevent suchdegradation from occurring. Insetting of differential conductive plates416 and 426 to a point with respect to a larger set of common plates424, 424 a, 424 b that are sandwiching differential plates 416 and 426and will increase the electrostatic shielding effectiveness during anenergized state. This orientation allows an electrical conductor to becoupled electrically to either individual differential plate 416 and 426but not necessarily both, so to allow for differentially phased, butcomplementary energy conditioning, between paired, but oppositelypositioned, differential conductors, 416 and 426.

Common support plate 412 is similar in construction to first and seconddifferential support plates 410 and 414 in that it, too, includesmaterial 430 with common conductive electrode 424 coupled to its topsurface . As can be seen from FIG. 6B, common plate 424 has twoisolation bands 420 and 422 positioned at opposite ends. Common plate424 is aligned in between first and second differential plates 416 and426 so that isolation bands 420 and 422 are aligned with the ends offirst and second differential plates 416 and 426 that do not haveisolation bands.

All three plates, common plate 424 and first and second differentialplates 416 and 426 do not have any type of conductive surface beneatheach plate and therefore when the plates are stacked one on top of theother, differential conductive electrode 416 is isolated from commonconductive electrode 424 by the backside of common support plate 412. Ina similar fashion, common conductive electrode 424 is isolated fromdifferential conductive electrode 426 by the backside of firstdifferential support plate 410 that is comprised of material 430.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, the construction of surface mountmulti-functional energy conditioner 400 will be further described. Oncecommon plate 424 and first and second differential plates 416 and 426are sandwiched together according to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6Band FIG. 19 as described, two additional common conductive plates 424Aand 424B are positioned to sandwich differential plates 416 and 426 thatare in turn, sandwiching common conductive plate 424. Plates 424B and424A are essentially the same in material make-up, size, and a generallyparallel orientation of their respective bands and electrode edges withthat of said center conductive plate 424 within the embodiment.

A means for coupling electrical conductors to the differentialelectrodes 416 and 426 must be included. Electrical conductors arecoupled to surface mount multi-functional energy conditioner 400 throughfirst differential conductive band 404 and second differentialconductive band 406, which are isolated from common conductive band 402by isolation bands 408 positioned in between conductive bands 402, 404and 406. Common conductive band 402 and isolation bands 408 can extend360 degrees around the body of 400 multi-functional energy conditionerto provide isolation on all four sides, however because of the almostcomplete shield-like envelopment of differential conductive electrodes416 and 426 by common conductive plates 424, 424A and 424B, commonconductive band 402 can be reduced in size or even eliminated byreplacing conductive band 402 with conductive termination structures(not shown), but similar in appearance and function of termination bands84 found on FIG. 14 or of the type normally used in the art. First andsecond differential conductive bands 404 and 406 not only extend 360degrees around respective portions of multi-functional energyconditioner 400, but also extend to cover ends 432 and 434,respectively.

By referring back and forth between FIGS. 6A and 6B, the couplingbetween the conductive bands and the plates can be seen. Firstdifferential conductive band 404 including end 434 maintains electricalcoupling with differential conductive electrode 416 which does not haveisolation band 418 extending to the end of first differential plate 416.Second differential conductive band 406 is electrically isolated fromcommon plate 424 and first differential plate 416 due to isolation band422 and 428 respectively.

In a similar fashion to that just described, second differentialconductive band 406 including end 432 is electrically coupled to seconddifferential conductive electrode 426 of second differential supportplate 414. Due to isolation bands 420, 420A, 420B and 422, 422A and 422Bof common support plates 412, 412A and 412B and first differential plate416, the second differential conductive band 406 is electricallyisolated from the first differential plate 416 and common plates 424,424A and 424B.

Electrical coupling of common conductive band 402 to common plates 424,424A and 424B is accomplished by the physical coupling of sides 436 ofcommon conductive band 402 or its substitutions, to common conductiveelectrodes 424, 424 a, 424 b, which lack isolation bands along twosides. To maintain electrical isolation of common conductive electrodes424,424A, 424B from first and second differential conductive bands 404and 406, isolation bands 420, 420A, 420B and 422, 422A, 422B of commonplates 412, 412A, 412B prevent any physical coupling of ends 432 and 434of first and second differential conductive bands 404 and 406 withcommon conductive electrodes, 424, 424A, 424B.

As with the other embodiments of the differential and common modemulti-functional energy conditioner of the present invention, conductiveelectrodes 416 and 426 of first and second differential support plates410 and 414 act as a line-to-line differential mode capacitor whenelectrical conductors are coupled to first and second differentialconductive bands 404 and 406. Line-to-ground decoupling capacitors areformed between each conductive electrode, 416 and 426 respectively, andcoupled, common conductive electrodes 424,424A, 424B, which form aFaraday cage-like shield structure 800 (not shown).

FIG. 7 discloses a further embodiment of a multi-functional energyconditioner formed on a Mylar-like or film medium. This embodiment iscomprised of a film medium and metalizing or conductiveization that isapplied by means known in the art and consists of a common conductiveplate 480 followed by the first electrode differential plate 460, thenanother common conductive plate 480 and second electrode differentialplate 500, then another common conductive plate 480. Each plate isessentially comprised of film 472, which itself may be comprised of anumber of materials such as but not limited to Mylar, wherein film 472is completely metallized or made conductive with another electricallyfriendly material on one side creating a metallized or conductively madeplate. Using lasers, portions of metallized or applied conductivematerial are removed (“de-metallized”) in predetermined patterns tocreate isolation barriers. First differential plate 460 has two laseredged isolation barriers 462 and 466, which divide first differentialplate 460 into three conductive areas: electrode 464, isolated electrode468 and common electrode 470. Second differential plate 500 is identicalto first differential plate 460 in that it has two isolation barriers506 and 504 which divide second differential plate 500 into threeconductive areas: electrode 510, isolated electrode 502 and commonelectrode 508. For both first and second differential plates 460 and500, isolation barriers 462 and 506 are essentially U-shaped to createelectrodes 464 and 510 that encompass a large area of first and secondplates 460 and 500. U-shaped isolation barriers 462 and 506 allowelectrode 464 and 510 to extend fully to ends 476 and 514, respectively.Extending from isolation barrier 462 and 506 are members 474 and 512 andextending from isolation barriers 466 and 504 are members 473 and 513.Members 474 and 512 extend perpendicular to and outward from the ends ofU-shaped isolation barriers 462 and 506 at their points nearest ends 476and 514 and members 473 and 513 extend perpendicular to and outward fromisolation barriers 466 and 504 respectively in order to fully isolatecommon electrodes 470 and 508 from ends 476 and 514. In addition, bothfirst and second differential plates 460 and 480 have isolatedelectrodes 468 and 502 formed on opposite of ends 476 and 514 byisolation barriers 466 and 504.

Common conductive plate 480 includes isolation barriers 482 and 492which divide common conductive plate 480 into three conductive surfaces:common electrode 488, isolated electrode 484 and isolated electrode 494.As shown, isolation barriers 482 and 492 run vertically adjacent to andin parallel with the right and left edges of common conductive plate480. Both isolation barriers 482 and 492 also include members 496extending outward and perpendicular from the vertical sections ofisolation barriers 482 and 492 and are positioned so when plates 460,480 and 500 are stacked, they are aligned with the horizontal portionsof the U-shaped isolation barriers 462 and 506 of first and seconddifferential plates 460 and 500.

An additional feature is that common conductive plate 480 can beoptimized for use in filtering AC or DC signals. Isolation barriers 492and 482 as described above are optimized for use in filtering DCsignals. For DC operation, isolated electrodes 484 and 494 require verylittle area within common conductive plate 480. When the filter iscomprised of a film medium and used for filtering AC signals, isolatedelectrodes 484 and 494 require a greater area, which is accomplished byetching modified isolation barriers 486 and 490. The vertically runningisolation barriers 484 and 494 are etched closer together and closer tothe center of common conductive plate 480. To accommodate thismodification, members 496 extending outward and perpendicular from thevertical sections are longer than for the DC version. The greater areaisolated electrodes 484 and 494 provide better AC filteringcharacteristics, although either configuration provides filtering toboth types of current.

FIGS. 8 through 9 are directed towards embodiments of themulti-functional energy conditioner configured for use with electricmotors but certainly not limited by this embodiment from performingenergy conditioning in other electronics applications. Electric motorsare a tremendous source of electromagnetic emissions and unbalance. Thisfact is evident even to layman, as most people have experienced runninga vacuum cleaner in front of an operating television set and noticing“snow” fill the screen. This interference with the television is due tothe electromagnetic emissions from the motor. Electric motors are usedextensively in a number of home appliances such as washing machines,dryers, dishwashers, blenders, and hair dryers. In addition, mostautomobiles contain a number of electric motors to control thewindshield wipers, electric windows, electric adjustable mirrors,retractable antennas and a whole host of other functions and can numberfrom 25 motors per automobile to over 150 per luxury automobile. Due tothe prevalence of electric motors and increased electromagneticemissions standards, there is a need for differential and common modefiltering ability in one integrated packaged that can reduce and in manycases eliminated all but one passive component to provide the neededfiltering and noise suppression without use of inductor or ferritecomponents used in addition to an invention embodiment

Electric motor filter 180 may be made in any number of shapes but in thepreferred embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it appears as a rectangular blockcomprised of material 182 having one of a number of predeterminedelectrical properties. FIG. 8a shows the outer construction of filter180, which consists of a rectangular block of material 182 having aninsulated shaft aperture 188, disposed through filter 180's center. The188 aperture is not necessarily common to this particular usage and isconsidered more as a convenience to the user than any electricalconditioning enhancements attributed to any said 188 aperture and thusit can be eliminated and optimally placement space is designed in foruse. Conductive bands 184 and 194 and common conductive bands 186. FIG.8b shows a side view of filter 180 with the arrangement of conductivebands 184 and 194 and common conductive band 186 being electrically andphysically isolated from one another by sections of material 182positioned between the various bands. FIG. 8c shows a cross sectionalong an imaginary centerline of FIG. 8a. As in all previousembodiments, the physical architecture of the present invention iscomprised of conductive electrodes 181 and 185 with common conductiveelectrode 183 sandwiched in between. Material 182 having predeterminedelectrical properties is interspersed between all of the electrodes toprevent electrical connection between the various conductive electrodes181 and 185 and common conductive electrode 183. Similar to that of thesurface mount embodiments of the present invention, filter 180 employsconductive bands 184 and 194 to electrically connect filter 180'sinternal electrodes to electrical conductors. Conductive electrode 181extends fully to and comes in contact with conductive band 184 toprovide the electrical interface required. As shown in FIG. 8c,conductive electrode 181 does not extend fully to come in contact withconductive band 194 which is coupled to conductive electrode 185.Although not shown, common conductive electrode 183 extends fullybetween common conductive bands 186 without coming in contact withconductive bands 184 and 194. Again, by coupling common conductive bands186 to the inside of the motor case 200 (inside, not Shown) and used asa floating ground, the inherent ground provided by common conductiveelectrode 183 is enhanced.

FIG. 8d is a schematic representation of differential and common modeelectric motor filter 180 showing conductive electrodes 181 and 185providing the two necessary parallel plates for a line-to-linedifferential mode coupling capacitor while at the same time working inconjunction with common conductive electrode 183 to provideline-to-ground common mode decoupling capacitors with common conductiveelectrode 183 co-acting with inherent ground (not shown). Also shown areconductive bands 184, 194 and common conductive bands 186 which allowelectric motor filter 180 to be connected to external differentialelectrical conductors and a separate conductive area (not shown),respectively. While the preferred embodiment of FIG. 8 shows threecommon conductive electrodes 183 and two conductive electrodes 181 and185, Applicant contemplates the use of a plurality of common anddifferential electrodes to obtain, varying capacitance values throughthe additive effect of parallel capacitance similar to that describedfor previous embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows differential and common mode electric motor filter 180electrically and physically coupled to electric motor 200. As shown inFIG. 9a, electric motor filter 180 is placed on top of electric motor200 having motor shaft 202 extending outward there from. Motor shaft 202is disposed through shaft aperture 188 of filter 180 with conductivebands 184 and 194 electrically coupled to connection terminals 196 whichare isolated from one another and the rotor of electric motor 200. Theindividual connection terminals 196, although not shown, are thenelectrically connected to electrical supply lines providing electricmotor 200 with power and return. Once electric motor filter 180 isconnected/coupled to electric motor 200, motor face plate 208 is placedon top of both motor 200 and filter 180 with motor shaft 202 disposedthrough a similar aperture in the center of motor face plate 208.Faceplate 208 is then physically coupled to the body of motor 200through the use of clamps 206. While not shown, filter 180 may be usedwith its inherent ground 34 and 34B by coupling common conductive bands186 to the motors enclosure or common conductive bands 186 may bedirectly wired to inside the motor shell casing.

FIG. 9C is a logarithmic graph showing a comparison of electric motor200's electromagnetic emission levels as a function of frequency withthe result of an electric motor having a standard filter being shown at220 and the results of differential and common mode electric motorfilter 180 shown at 222. The graph demonstrates that between 0.01 MHzand approximately 10 MHz there is a minimum of an additional 20 dB ofsuppression of the electromagnetic emissions using filter 180 ascompared to the prior art filter throughout the range with even morepronounced decreases in the 0.1 to 1 MHz range. One can see that at theupper frequency range of 10-20 MHz and beyond, the decrease inelectromagnetic emissions is not as great as at the lower frequenciesbut this is not particularly critical as most electric motors operatewell below this frequency range thereby allowing electric motor filter180 to provide enhanced performance with decreased electromagneticemissions for the majority of applications.

The differential and common mode filter has been presented in manyvariations both above and in commonly owned patents and patentapplications, previously incorporated herein by reference. A furtherembodiment of the present invention utilizes a variation of the filterpreviously discussed. Shielded twisted pair feed through differentialand common mode filter 300 is shown in FIG. 10A. The difference betweenthis filter 300 and earlier presented filters is the location of firstdifferential electrode bands 302A, 302B and second differentialelectrode bands 306A, 306B, which are located diagonally from eachother, respectively. Common ground conductive bands 304 are separatedfrom first and second differential electrode bands 302 and 306 byinsulating material 308 as in the previous filter embodiments. Shieldedtwisted pair feed through differential and common mode filter 300comprises a minimum of a first and second differential electrode plates312 and 316, respectively, and a minimum of three common groundconductive plates 314 as shown in FIG. 10B. The electrode plates 312,314, and 316 are stacked and insulated from each other by material 308as in the previous filter embodiments.

Referring now to FIGS. 10C and 10D, which show schematic representationsof shielded twisted pair feed through differential and common modefilter 300 and how it is used to eliminate differential noise. Current Iis shown flowing in opposing directions through first and seconddifferential electrode bands 302A and 306B, crossing over each other,and flowing out through first and second differential electrode bands302B and 306A. The crossover point of the current I acts as a line toline capacitor while the common conductive ground plate 314 providesline to ground capacitors on either side of the crossover point.

In FIG. 10D, the filter 300 is depicted as generally parallel electrodeplates 312, 314, and 316, with electrode plates 312, 316, eachsandwiched by common ground conductive plates 314 in a Faraday cage-likeshield structure configuration. The current I is shown flowing inopposite directions through the differential electrode plates. Note thatthe common ground conductive plates 314 are electrically interconnected,but insulated from the differential electrodes as has been disclosed infilter embodiments previously incorporated by reference herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 10E and 10F, which show schematic representationsof shielded twisted pair feed through differential and common modefilter 300 and how it is used to eliminate common mode noise. Current Iis shown flowing in the same directions through first and seconddifferential electrode bands 302A and 306A, crossing over each other,and flowing out through first and second differential electrode bands302B and 306B. The crossover point of the current I acts as a line toline capacitor while the common conductive ground plate 314 providesline to ground capacitors on either side of the crossover point.

In FIG. 10F, the filter 300 is again depicted as generally parallelelectrode plates 312, 314, and 316, with electrode plates 312, 316, eachsandwiched by common ground conductive plates 314 in a Faraday cage-likeshield structure configuration. The current I is shown flowing in thesame direction through the differential electrode plates. Note that thecommon ground conductive plates 314 are electrically interconnected, butinsulated from the differential electrodes as has been disclosed infilter embodiments previously incorporated by reference herein.

The filter of the present invention may exist in innumerableembodiments. As an example of various types of layered configurationscontemplated, but not intended to limit the invention, variousadditional embodiments of multi-component filters will be described. Ineach figure, the five electrode plates are shown individually and thenin a top plan view and finally in a side view. Referring now to FIGS. 11and 12, two different embodiments of the invention 70, 70′ are shown,FIG. 11 in bypass, FIG. 12 in feed-thru. As in the previous embodiment300, the current must flow through the electrodes to complete thecircuit in FIG. 12. Each of the embodiments has a first differentialelectrode plate 72 and a second differential electrode plate 76sandwiched between three common conductive plates 74. The plates aregenerally surrounded on the perimeter of each plate 72, 74, 76 bymaterial 75, however, terminal portions 72 a, 74 a, 76A, respectively,of the plates extend through the material. These terminal portions 72 a,74 a, 76A are connected to first differential conductive bands 82,common conductive bands 84, and second differential conductive bands 86,respectively, to provide external connection to an energized circuit(not shown).

The conductive bands 82, 84, 86 are isolated from each other by aninsulated outer casing 88. Common conductive plates 74 have four commonconductive bands 84, which provide four places of attachment toexternal, ground areas of an electrical circuit system, wherein eachcommon conductive band 84 is about 90 degrees from the next adjacentcommon conductive band 84. This feature provides additional isolationand centralizing of the line conditioning capabilities of the structuresand provides improved charge concentration.

The primary difference between the filters 70, 70′ is that the electrodeterminal portions 72 a, 76A are on the same longitudinal side in thefilter 70 while the electrode terminal portions are on the oppositelongitudinal side in the filter 70′. Also current dose not pass throughfilter 70 as it does in filter 70′. The different terminal locationsprovide versatility in the applicability of the filters to differentelectrical circuit system configurations.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the filter shown 80 is identical to the filter70′ shown in FIG. 12 except that the shape is rectangular and there areonly two common conductive bands 84.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the filter shown 80′ is identical to thefilter 80 shown in FIG. 13 except that the electrode terminal portion(not numbered) are diagonal to each other in a twisted pair feed thrudesign.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-18, alternate filter embodiments havingmultiple filters integrated into one package. It should be understoodthat any number of individual filters can be incorporated into a singleelectronic component and that the invention is not limited to twoindividual filters.

Each of the FIGS. 15-18 show a first dual electrode plate 72A, having afirst electrode 72 and a second electrode 76, and a second dualelectrode plate 76A, having a first electrode 76 and a second electrode72, sandwiched between common conductive plates 74A. Each of theelectrodes 72, 74, 76 in FIG. 15 and each of the electrodes 72, 76 ofFIG. 16 have two electrode termination portions (not numbered) extendingthrough a generally surrounding isolation band of material 88.

Each of the electrodes 72, 74, 76 in FIG. 17 and each of the electrodes72, 76 of FIG. 18, have one electrode termination portion (not numbered)extending through a generally surrounding isolation band of material 88.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 17, the common conductive plates 74A havefour common conductive terminals (not numbered) which when connected tocommon conductive bands 84, provide four places of attachment toexternal ground areas (not shown) of an electrical circuit system,wherein each common conductive band 84 is about 90 degrees from the nextadjacent common conductive band 84.

Additionally, the first and second dual electrode plates 90, 96 have asmaller common conductive plate electrode 74 between the first andsecond electrode 72 and 76 of each plate 72A and 76A, respectively. Thisfeature provides additional isolation of the dual electrodes.

In an energized system, the invention contains a single shielding,cage-like structure 800″ or grouped commonly conductive elements thatform extension and/or transformational fusion to its attached anexternal conductive area 34, will significantly eliminate, reduce and/orsuppress E-Fields and H-fields emissions, RF loop radiation, straycapacitances, stray inductances, capacitive parasitics, and at the sametime allow for mutual cancellation of oppositely charged or phased andadjacent or abutting electrical fields. The process of electrical energytransmission conditioning is considered a dynamic process over time.

This process can be measured to some degree by devices such as dualport, Time Domain Reflectometry test equipment and/or other industrystandard test equipment and fixtures. The invention can also be attachedin a single, dual or multi-conductor electrical system with slightmodifications made to accommodate external input and output energytransmission conductors or paths for such applications like signal,energy transmission and/or power line decoupling, bypassing andfiltering operations. Circuitry and depictions of some of theembodiments shown in this document expose some of the placementscontemplated by the applicant and should not be construed as the onlypossible configurations of the invention elements.

Another aspect of the present invention involves ‘decoupling loops’ or‘RF loops’. Decoupling loops are related to the perimeter and physicalarea contained within the current path loop by the physical placement ofa passive unit, such as a decoupling capacitor, in relation to its'distance and position between an active component that is receiving theenergy that is conditioned from the passive element. In other words, thecurrent loop is the distance and area enclosed by the current path fromthe power plane to the passive element and the return path to its source(typically on a PCB type board or IC package, etc.).

Power and ground return current pathways which make up an energized looparea are energy transmission lines which at certain frequencies,depending upon the physical size of the loop area of the currentpathways, can act as an antenna, radiating unwanted energy from thesystem. This energized RF loop area creates a state of voltage imbalancein the electrical system because it allows detrimental common modeenergy as a by-product of the imbalance that can seriously disrupt andstrain efficient energy delivery to active components between an energysource and its subsequent return. The physical size of the RF loop areais directly related to the magnitude of the RF energy that is radiatingfrom the electrical circuit system.

Due to the minute distances between the conductive termination paths tothat of each respective differentially conductive energy transmissionpath the RF loop issue is negated. Voltage balance of the circuit is nolonger detrimentally affected as in prior art components or systems.

Referring now to FIG. 19, the Faraday cage-like shield structure 800 orconfiguration concept of the present invention is shown in detail. Aportion of a multi-functional line-conditioning device formed asdescribed for a basic five-layer embodiment will be discussed in moredetail. According to the present invention FIG. 19 comprises a portionof the Faraday cage-like structure 800 which consists of two areas ofspace that sandwiches one of two differential electrodes as more fullydescribed as a whole in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B of this filing. Conductiveelectrode plate 809 is sandwiched between central common conductiveplate 804 and common conductive plate 808 (shown offset). Commonconductive plates 804, 808 and 810 (not shown) are all separated fromeach other by a general parallel interposition of a predetermineddielectric material and between each outside plate 810 and 808 relativeto each plates respect position to the central common conductive plate804 and differential conductive electrode pathways 809 and 809A (notshown) that feature a differential conductive electrode such asconductive plate 809, almost completely covered or shielded byconductive plates 808 and 804, respectively that are sandwichingconductive plate 809 in this case, above and below, within theinvention.

The conductive plates 804, 808, and 810 are also surrounded bydielectric material 801 that provides support and an outer casing of thecomponent. A means to allow connection of both common shield terminationstructures 802 to the same common conductive plates 808 and 804 and 810(not shown) individually, is essential and is desired for thisembodiment. When the entire invention is placed into circuitry,termination structures 802 should be attached by standard means known inthe art to the same external conductive area or to the same externalconductive path (not shown) without an interruption or conductive gapbetween each respective termination structures, 802.

A standard means known in the art facilitates connection of commonshield termination structures 802, which attached, respectively, on allthree conductive plates 804, 808, and 810 (not shown) together, willform a single structure to act as one common conductive Faradaycage-like shield structure of 800″ (not shown).

Although not shown, Faraday cage-like structure 800′ (not shown)mirrorssingle, Faraday cage-like structure 800 (not shown) except thatdifferential electrode 809A (not shown) contained within, is sandwichedand has a exit/entrance section 812A (not shown) that is not fullyshielded, but in a generally opposing direction of 180 degrees to thatof conductive termination structure 807 and differential electrode 809to join with conductive termination structure 807A (not shown).

These two Faraday cage-like structures 800 and 800′ are in a positionedand parallel relationship, but most importantly, cage-like structures800 and 800′ are sharing the same, central common conductive plate 804,layer or pathway that makes up each Faraday cage-like structures 800 and800′, when taken individually.

Together, Faraday cage-like structures 800 and 800′ create a single andlarger conductive Faraday cage-like shield structure 800″ (not shown)that acts as a double container. Each container 800 and 800′ will holdan equal number of same sized, differential electrodes that are opposingone another within said larger structure 800″ in a generally parallelmanner, respectively. Larger conductive Faraday cage-like shieldstructure 800″ is made with co-acting 800 and 800′ individual,shield-like structures when energized, and attached to the same externalcommon conductive path 34, to become one electrically.

At energization, the predetermined arrangement of the common conductiveelectrodes 804, 808 and 810 (not shown) into a differential conductivesandwich with a centralized common shield 804, are elements that make upone common conductive cage-like shield structure 800″, which is the baseelement of the present invention, namely the Faraday cage-like shieldstructure 800″.

The 800″ structure in essence, forms a minimum of two Faraday cage-likestructures 800 and 800′ that are required to make up a multi-functionalline-conditioning device in all of the layered embodiments of thepresent invention. The central common conductive plate 804 with respectto its interposition between the differential electrodes 809 and 809A(not shown) needs the outer two additional sandwiching common electrodeplates 808 and 810 to be considered an un-energized Faraday cage-likeshield structure 800″.

To go further, the central common plate 804 will be simultaneously usedby both differential electrodes 809 and 809A at the same time, but withopposite results, with respective to charge switching. It must be notedthat for most chip, non-hole thru embodiments, a new device will have aminimum of two differential electrodes sandwiched between three commonconductive electrodes and connected, external termination structuresthat are connected, and are conductively, as one, to form a single,larger Faraday cage-like shield structure 800″ that when attached to alarger external conductive area 34, helps perform simultaneously,energized line conditioning and filtering functions, upon the energypropagating along the conductors sandwich within the said cage-likeshield structure 800″, in an oppositely phased or charged manner.

The now attached, internal common conductive electrode plates 804, 808and 810 (not shown) that make up the Faraday cage-like shield structure800″ and their subsequent energization will allow the externalconductive area or pathway 34 to become, in essence, an extended andclosely positioned and essentially parallel arrangement of conductiveelements with respect to its position also located internally within thepre-determined layered PCB or similar electronic circuitry.

Connection of the joined common conductive, and enveloping, multiple,common shield plates 808 and 810 (not shown) with a common centrallylocated common conductive plate 804 that will be, to external extensionelements 34 interposed in such a multiple, parallel manner that theexternal extension elements will have microns of distance separation or‘loop area’ with respect to the complimentary, phased differentialelectrodes 809 and 809A (not shown) that are sandwiched themselves andyet are separated (not shown) from the external extension 34 by adistance containing a dielectric medium 801 so that said extensionbecomes an enveloping shield-like element that will performelectrostatic shielding functions, among others, that the said energizedcombination will enhance and produce efficient, simultaneousconditioning upon the energy propagating on or along said portions ofassembly differential conductors. The internal and external parallelarrangement groupings of a combined common conductive planes or areaswill also cancel and/or suppress unwanted parasitics, electromagneticemissions that can escape from or enter upon portions of saiddifferential conductors used by said portions of energy as it propagatesalong a conductive pathway to active assembly load(s).

In the following sections, reference to common conductive plate 804 alsoapplies to common conductive plates 808 and 810. Common conductive plate804 is offset a distance 814 from the edge of the invention. One or moreportions 811of the common ground common conductive plate 804 extends812′ through material 801 and is attached to common ground terminationband or structure 802. Although not shown, the common ground terminationband 802 electrically connects the common conductive plates 804, 808 and810 to each other, and to all other common conductive plates of thefilter, if used.

The conductive electrode plate 809 is not as large as the commonconductive plate 804 such that an offset distance and area 806 existsbetween the edge 803 of the electrode plate 809 and of the edge of thecentral common conductive plate 804. This offset distance and area 806enables the common conductive plate 804 to extend beyond the electrodeplate 809 to provide a shield against any flux lines which might extendbeyond the edge 803 of the electrode plate 809 resulting in reduction orelimination of near field coupling to other electrode plates within thefilter or to elements external to the filter.

The horizontal offset is approximately 0 to 20+ times the verticaldistance between the electrode plate 809 and the common conductive plate804, however, the offset distance 806 can be optimized for a particularapplication but all distances of overlap 806 among each respective plateis ideally approximately the same as manufacturing tolerances willallow. Minor size differences are unimportant in distance/area 806between plates as long as the electrostatic shielding function ofFaraday cage-like shield structure 800″ is not compromised. In order toconnect electrode 809 to the energy pathways (not shown), the electrode809 may have one or two portions 812 which extend 812′ beyond the edge805 of the common conductive plates 804 and 808. These portions 812 areconnected to electrode termination band 807 which enables the electrode809 to be electrically connected to the energy pathways (not shown) bysolder or the like as previously discussed. It should be noted thatelement 813 is a dynamic representation of the center axis point of thethree-dimensional energy conditioning functions that take place withinthe invention and is relative with respect to the final size, shape andposition of the embodiment in an energized circuit.

As can be seen, many different applications of the multi-functionalenergy conditioner architecture are possible and review of severalfeatures universal to all the embodiments must be noted. First, thematerial 801 having predetermined electrical properties may be one of anumber in any of the embodiments including but not limited to dielectricmaterial, metal oxide varistor material, ferrite material and other moreexotic substances such as Mylar film or sintered polycrystalline. Nomatter which material 801is used, the combination of common conductiveplates and electrode conductive plates creates a plurality of capacitorsto form a line-to-line differential coupling capacitor between and twoline-to-ground decoupling capacitors from a pair of electricalconductors. The material 801 having electrical properties will vary thecapacitance values and/or add additional features such as over-voltageand surge protection or increased inductance, resistance, or acombination of all the above.

Second, in all embodiments whether shown or not, the number of plates,both common conductive and electrode, can be multiplied to create anumber of capacitive elements in parallel which thereby add to createincreased capacitance values.

Third, additional common conductive plates surrounding the combinationof a center conductive plate and a plurality of conductive electrodesare employed to provide an increased inherent ground and optimizedFaraday cage-like function and surge dissipation area in allembodiments.

Fourth, although a minimum of one central common conductive shieldpaired with two additionally positioned common conductive plates orshields are generally desired and should be positioned on opposite sidesof the central common conductive shield (other elements such asdielectric material and differential conductive electrodes can belocated between these shields as described). Additional commonconductive plates can be employed with any of the embodiments shown andis fully contemplated by Applicant.

In fact the multi-functional energy conditioner, although not shown,could easily be fabricated in silicon and directly incorporated intointegrated circuits for use in such applications as communicationmicroprocessor integrated circuitry or chips. Integrated circuits arealready being made having capacitors etched within the siliconefoundation which allows the architecture of the present invention toreadily be incorporated with technology available today.

The multi-functional energy conditioner can also be embedded and filtercommunication or data lines directly from their circuit board terminalconnections, thus reducing circuit board real estate requirements andfurther reducing overall circuit size while having simpler productionrequirements.

Finally, from a review of the numerous embodiments it should be apparentthat the shape, thickness or size may be varied depending on theelectrical characteristics desired or upon the application in which thefilter is to be used due to the physical architecture derived from thearrangement of common conductive electrode plates and their attachmentstructures that form at least one single conductively homogenous,Faraday cage-like shield structure 800″ and other conductive electrodeplates.

Although the principals, preferred embodiments and preferred operationof the present invention have been described in detail herein, this isnot to be construed as being limited to the particular illustrativeforms disclosed. It will thus become apparent to those skilled in theart that various modifications of the preferred embodiments herein canbe made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrode arrangement comprising: a plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are arranged spaced-apart by at least a material having ferromagnetic properties; a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes positioned below a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes; a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes positioned above the second electrode; a fourth electrode of the plurality of electrodes positioned above the third electrode; a fifth electrode of the plurality of electrodes positioned above the fourth electrode; the second electrode and the fourth electrode are conductively isolated from each other; the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are conductively coupled to one another; and wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are conductively isolated from the second electrode and the fourth electrode.
 2. The electrode arrangement of claim 1, wherein the third electrode is the central electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
 3. The electrode arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are substantially the same size; and wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are substantially the same size.
 4. The electrode arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are substantially the same size; and wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are each identically smaller than the first electrode, the third electrode or the fifth electrode.
 5. The electrode arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are substantially the same size; wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are substantially the same size; wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are each smaller than either the first electrode, the third electrode or the fifth electrode; and wherein the third electrode is the central electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
 6. The electrode arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are substantially the same shape; wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are substantially the same shape; wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are each smaller than either the first electrode, the third electrode or the fifth electrode; and wherein the second electrode and the fourth electrode are shielded from each other.
 7. The electrode arrangement of claim 5 operable as a bypass electrode arrangement.
 8. The electrode arrangement of claim 6, wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are operable as shielding electrodes of at least the second electrode and the fourth electrode.
 9. The electrode arrangement of claim 7, wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are operable as shielding electrodes of at least the second electrode and the fourth electrode.
 10. The electrode arrangement of claim 9 operable as a portion of a capacitive network.
 11. A circuit comprising: at least the electrode arrangement of claim
 1. 12. The electrode arrangement of claim 8 further comprising paired conductors arranged spaced-apart and conductively isolated from each other; a conductive area; a first conductor of the paired conductors is conductively coupled to the second electrode; a second conductor of the paired conductors is conductively coupled to the fourth electrode; the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are conductively coupled to the conductive area; and wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode and the conductive area are each conductively isolated from the paired conductors.
 13. The electrode arrangement of claim 10, wherein the electrode arrangement is operable for simultaneous common mode and differential mode filtering with a surge protection function.
 14. The electrode arrangement of claim 6, wherein the material having ferromagnetic properties is a material having predominately varistor material properties.
 15. The electrode arrangement of claim 10, wherein the material having ferromagnetic properties is a material having predominately dielectric material properties.
 16. The electrode arrangement of claim 10, wherein the material having ferromagnetic properties is a material having predominately varistor material properties.
 17. The electrode arrangement of claim 6, wherein the material having ferromagnetic properties is a material having predominately dielectric material properties.
 18. A filtering arrangement comprising: a plurality of common electrodes arranged conductively coupled to one another, wherein each common electrode of the plurality of common electrodes is substantially the same size; paired electrodes arranged conductively isolated from each other, wherein each electrode of the paired electrodes is substantially the same size; a material having predetermined properties; paired conductors that are arranged conductively isolated from each other; a conductive area; a first common electrode of the plurality of common electrodes is supported by a first portion of the material having predetermined properties; a first electrode of the paired electrodes is supported by a second portion of the material having predetermined properties; the first common electrode and the first portion of the material having predetermined properties are positioned below the first electrode and the second portion of the material having predetermined properties; a second common electrode of the plurality of common electrodes supported by a third portion of the material having predetermined properties is positioned above the first electrode; a second electrode of the paired electrodes supported by a fourth portion of the material having predetermined properties is positioned above the second common electrode; a third common electrode of the plurality of common electrodes supported by a fifth portion of the material having predetermined properties is positioned above the second electrode; a first conductor of the paired conductors is conductively coupled to the first electrode; a second conductor of the paired conductors is conductively coupled to the second electrode; the plurality of common electrodes is conductively coupled to the conductive area; the plurality of common electrodes and the conductive area are both conductively isolated from the paired electrodes and the paired conductors; and wherein the second common electrode is the central electrode of the filtering arrangement.
 19. The filtering arrangement of claim 18, wherein the material having predetermined properties is a material having ferrite properties.
 20. The filtering arrangement of claim 18, wherein the filtering arrangement is selectively coupled to an electric motor.
 21. The filtering arrangement of claim 19, wherein any one common electrode of the plurality of common electrodes is larger than any one electrode of the paired electrodes.
 22. The filtering arrangement of claim 20, wherein the material having predetermined properties is a material having either predominately dielectric properties, or predominately ferrite properties, or predominately varistor properties.
 23. A circuit comprising: at least the filtering arrangement of claim
 18. 24. A circuit comprising: at least the filtering arrangement of claim 19; and wherein the filtering arrangement is operable for simultaneous common mode and differential mode filtering with a surge protection function.
 25. A circuit comprising: at least the filtering arrangement of claim
 22. 26. An electrode arrangement comprising: paired electrodes of substantially the same size and shape; a common conductive means for shielding paired electrodes from each other; the electrodes of the paired electrodes are spaced apart from the common conductive means for shielding paired electrodes from each other; the electrodes of the paired electrodes are spaced apart from each other; the electrodes of the paired electrodes are complementary positioned relative to each; the electrodes of the paired electrodes are conductively isolated from each other; and wherein a means for electrode support is operable for both the common conductive means for shielding paired electrodes from each other and the paired electrodes.
 27. The electrode arrangement of claim 26, wherein the common conductive means for shielding paired electrodes from each other comprises at least an odd integer number of common electrodes greater than
 1. 28. The electrode arrangement of claim 27, wherein each electrode of the paired electrodes is smaller than any one common electrode of the at least an odd integer number of common electrodes greater than
 1. 29. The electrode arrangement of claim 28, wherein the means for electrode support is a material having predetermined properties; and wherein the material having predetermined properties is a material having either predominately dielectric properties, or predominately ferrite properties, or predominately varistor properties.
 30. The electrode arrangement of claim 26, wherein the means for electrode support is a material having predetermined properties; and wherein the material having predetermined properties is a material having either predominately dielectric properties, or predominately ferrite properties, or predominately varistor properties.
 31. The electrode arrangement of claim 27, wherein each electrode of the paired electrodes is substantially inset relative to the odd integer number of common electrodes greater than
 1. 32. The electrode arrangement of claim 29 operable as a bypass electrode arrangement.
 33. The electrode arrangement of claim 30 operable as a portion of a capacitive network.
 34. A circuit comprising: at least the electrode arrangement of claim
 26. 35. A circuit comprising: at least the electrode arrangement of claim
 29. 36. A circuit comprising: at least the electrode arrangement of claim
 30. 37. The circuit of claim 34, wherein portions of energy propagations found along each electrode of the paired electrodes of the electrode arrangement of claim 26 are dynamically shielded by the common conductive means for shielding paired electrodes from each other. 